Australian rugby is celebrating another little win, with rising Wallaby Isaac Kailea the latest to commit to the nation’s World Cup bid.
And more good news is believed to be around the corner, with Matt Philip’s homecoming expected to be announced soon too.
The well-travelled 31-year-old, who left Australian rugby following the Wallabies’ 2023 World Cup campaign, has long wanted to play for his home state NSW and Dan McKellar’s desire to bolster his second-row stocks will help make that happen.
McKellar had considered making a strong bid to try and lure Izack Rodda home, but with Philip coming to the end of his second season at Yokohama Canon Eagles, it’s understood the stars aligned for the Waratahs to make a play for the Northern Beaches product.
A ruck-hitting, lineout guru, Philip is just the type of big body that won’t just help McKellar’s forward play but also the type of second-rower that Joe Schmidt will be thrilled to have available for him during the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.
News of Philip’s recruitment continues a strong month of retention for Rugby Australia, with Jeremy Williams’ decision to stay put at the Western Force followed by the re-signings of fellow locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Nick Frost.
Reds duo Fraser McReight and Matt Faessler also put pen to paper recently.
Matt Philip is set to return to Australian rugby. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Philio’s former Rebels teammate Kailea might have featured in eight Tests in his first season in gold last year, but the 24-year-old’s career is just getting started.
A strong runner in tight, Kailea has all the tools to be a mainstay with the Wallabies for years.
The Waratahs loose-head prop, a converted back-rower who moved to the front-row on the cusp of becoming an adult, moved to NSW in 2025 but has been limited to just a couple of matches off the bench with Angus Bell entrenched in the No.1 jersey.
But there’s no doubting Kailea’s potential and his retention through to the World Cup will help ensure the Wallabies have a prop to take the reins from James Slipper if and when the veteran front-rower hangs up the boots.
“I’m happy to be able to have my immediate future sorted and to have some stability so I can focus on my rugby here at the Waratahs for at least the next two seasons,” Kailea said.
“I’m really enjoying my time here in Sydney with the team so far and working with the coaches to improve my game.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard and earn more opportunities to represent the blue and gold jerseys.”
Isaac Kailea has re-signed with the Waratahs for another couple of years. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne said he expected Kailea to build on his breakout season with the Wallabies.
“We are excited to lock in Issac for a further two years following a successful season in 2024 that included Tests against Wales, Georgia, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland,” he said.
“At just 24 years old, Issac’s best rugby is still ahead of him and we are looking forward to see him continue to evolve at provincial and international level.”
McKellar, a former prop, has prioritised building a strong tight-five wherever he has gone as a coach and added that Kailea was an important piece of the puzzle for the Waratahs.
“It’s great to have Isaac on board for the next couple of years,” he said.
“He’s a good young loose-head prop with enormous potential, working hard on his set piece game to develop around scrum, line out and maul which will complement his natural talents as a rugby player – very physical, good footwork and accurate on both sides of the ball.
“He’s certainly someone that’ll give us good strength and depth in in a really important position.”
Kailea will come off the bench against the Brumbies on Saturday night in their crunch Australian Super Rugby derby in Sydney.
